Chennai: A study found that Perungudi’s dump yard, which is managed by Greater Chennai Corporation, was not only in violation of solid waste management rules but all applicable laws, according to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Anna University and other independent researchers conducted a critical analysis of groundwater samples from the area around the dump yard. It was found that the samples contained high levels chromium, cobalt, and sulphides. The leachate from the dumpyard that is discharged into a canal that leads to the sea has recently turned dark pink. This raises concerns not only about industrial waste but also ground water contamination.
Professors from IIT-Madras and Anna University, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, and other NGOs like Care Earth have been studying water samples and solid waste samples for more than a decade to document environmental violations at the dumpyard.
G Janardhanan (associate professor in civil and environmentally engineering in National Institute of Technical Teacher Training and Research Ministry of Education) said that the dump yard is not a scientific landfill and that it should be stopped if there is any concern about ground water contamination. He has studied leachates from various landfills. The leachate from solid waste contains high levels of heavy Metals. He stated that if there isn’t a nonpermeable membrane between the land and the dump, the groundwater contamination could be severe.
The TNPCB, for its part, ruled that the dump yard was illegal and violated all solid waste management rules.
Deepak Srivatsava (member secretary for wetlands mission in TN), stated that Pallikaranai marshland is a Ramsar site and that he had written letters to the TNPCB to ask them to stop dumping waste. This is in violation of Rule 4 of the solid refuse management rules. This is not a landfill, but a dump. It should be moved and waste transportation should be stopped.
Anna University and other independent researchers conducted a critical analysis of groundwater samples from the area around the dump yard. It was found that the samples contained high levels chromium, cobalt, and sulphides. The leachate from the dumpyard that is discharged into a canal that leads to the sea has recently turned dark pink. This raises concerns not only about industrial waste but also ground water contamination.
Professors from IIT-Madras and Anna University, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, and other NGOs like Care Earth have been studying water samples and solid waste samples for more than a decade to document environmental violations at the dumpyard.
G Janardhanan (associate professor in civil and environmentally engineering in National Institute of Technical Teacher Training and Research Ministry of Education) said that the dump yard is not a scientific landfill and that it should be stopped if there is any concern about ground water contamination. He has studied leachates from various landfills. The leachate from solid waste contains high levels of heavy Metals. He stated that if there isn’t a nonpermeable membrane between the land and the dump, the groundwater contamination could be severe.
The TNPCB, for its part, ruled that the dump yard was illegal and violated all solid waste management rules.
Deepak Srivatsava (member secretary for wetlands mission in TN), stated that Pallikaranai marshland is a Ramsar site and that he had written letters to the TNPCB to ask them to stop dumping waste. This is in violation of Rule 4 of the solid refuse management rules. This is not a landfill, but a dump. It should be moved and waste transportation should be stopped.
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